Valentine’s Day is the time where people have a chance to remind their loved ones how much they are appreciated. Plenty of us elect to do this with presents, from cards and flowers, to chocolate and teddy bears. While it is plenty of fun to give and receive these presents, the amount of trash accumulated after Valentine’s Day makes it one of the most wasteful days of the year. Here is a guide on how recipients of a few of the most popular Valentine’s gifts can properly dispose of waste when the day is over:

• Valentine’s Day cards: Plenty of recyclers will take old greeting cards either through curbside recycling or at their drop-off centers. You can find out about those places near you through our recycling location search. Another great alternative is offered by St. Jude’s Ranch. For more than 30 years, the company has accepted greeting cards to recycle and sell, with the proceeds going to abused and neglected children and families.
• Candy wrappers: Candy pieces are often wrapped with cellophane wrappers or those that are wax coated and made with nonrecyclable adhered materials. If you have leftover candy wrappers made of these materials, there are plenty of possible DIY projects that could transform the wrappers into artwork, such as making decoupage or using the wrappers to decorate plain household items. Otherwise, aluminum wrappers can be recycled, and non-waxed paper wrappers can go with compost.
• Candy boxes: Candy boxes could also be recreated after they are used for Valentine’s Day. If kept clean, they could be used again for the next Valentine’s Day. They can also make great organizers for crafts, jewelry or other small items. These boxes otherwise are not recyclable and end up in landfills when the holiday is over.
• Flowers: The best way to recycle Valentine’s Day flowers after they have wilted is to composting them. They can go into the compost bin in your yard or one that belongs to a curbside or drop-off recycling program nearby, or even be cut into small pieces and sprinkled around a garden to feed the soil.

There are many alternatives to throwing out Valentine’s Day gifts and waste, and these precautions can make a big difference in achieving a less wasteful holiday. Aside from being careful about how to recycle these items, consumers can also look for great eco-friendly alternatives to these gifts to show their loved ones how much they mean.